Cafeteria table appliance



Jan. 1, 1935. H. c. GESSLER 1,986,262

CAFETERIA TABLE APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 6, 1933 ATTORN EY V This inventionrelates to table appliances for Patented Jan. 1, 1935 l "UNITE D iS-TATEcAFE'rEnrA TABLE'APPLIANCll Harry G. Gessler, Brooklyn, N. Y. 1

' Application L Ianuary 6,

v 10 Claims.

cafeterias. f V

. One object of the invention is to provide an appliance of thecharacter described .whereinsa plurality of devices suchas a tray and anapkin dispenser-are coordinated in improved association with eachother. V A

4 In cafeterias, especially, where a considerable number of-patrons maybeseated at one table.

the table space is relatively limited and crowded, and henceto economizein available room, it has been customary to providea centrally locatedtray elevated above the table. Such tray isused for containers fon-sugar, mustard, spicesg' 'and the like, which are accessibly located,easilyseen, do not occupy any table space, and moreover, do notinterfere with the cleaning'of the table. In-other'words, whenthedishes' are removed by the attendants from the'table, the latter isuni formly free and-vacant; *A napkin dispenser, however, isgenerally-positioned'on the table, and this is the only-device thereonwhich is constantly located on the table" and which militates againstthe uniformly free unencumbered condition of thecleared table," besidesoccupying space and beingin the way whenthe-table isin use by-thepatrons. flhis' drawback; which -I have perceived, 'I have remediedby-the invention herein described. 7 v

Another objectof the -invention is to furnish an appliance of the nature"set forth,wherein the tray which is normally mounted on'a suitablepedestal has improved association with said pedestal and the napkindispenser: so as to be interchangeably mounted on -either, accordin'gtothe requirements of the particular cafeteria More specifically, somecafeterias havea'sin'gle source of supply of the'mapkins', to which thepatrons must go forth'eir napkins, and in such cases the cafeteria mayprefer to have the trays 'mounted on the pedestals. Hence it will be ofconsiderable advantage 'to" the manufacturer to provide an appliancewherein the trayisinterchangeably connected with the napkin dispenserand the pedestal. Moreoi/er, the cafeteria may purchase such:appliar'iees and consequently use thetray and pedestal combination orthe-tray and napkin dispenser combination asmay be preferred'or asexigencies may require, i

A further objectf the invention-is to provide an appliance of thetypementioned halving few and simple parts, and which is inexpensive tomanufacture and assemble, and durable, convenient, reliable, andefficient in use, and neat in appearance. i r I 1933, Serial N6.1656,410

( oi. c s-) Otherobjects and advantages of theinvention will becomeapparent "as the specification pro- With the aforesaid objects inview,theinven tion consists inrthe'novelfcombinations and ar-- rangements ofparts :hereinafterdescribed in their preferred embodiments, pointed 'outin the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing,.wherein like parts are designated by the same referencecharacters'throughout the several views.

In the drawing:... v A Figure 1 is a" view in front elevation withpartsin section: showing an appliance embodying the invention. 1 r1: Fig. 2is a view: in front elevation of: an appliance embodyingpthe inventionaccording to a different combinationthereof.

Fig; 3 is a view inside elevation" of 'a'napkin dispenser; according tothe: invention. i 1.2 1 Fig.4 is a top planview on'a reduced scale ofthedevice shown-inFigil; The advantages oftheinvention as here out:lined are best realized .when all of its features and instrumentalitiesareacombined in'one and-the same structure, but, .use'fuldevices may beproduced embodying less .than the whole; 1

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to whichaithis' inventionappertains, that the. same may be: incorporated in severaldifferentconstructions- The accompanying drawing-therefore, is "submitted merely:as showing the pre-.

ferred exemplification of the'inve'ntion. c 1 Referring in detail to thedrawing, t denotes an appliance rcembodying .the invention, The

same includes a conventional napkin dispenser 11 andiany suitable tray12 mounted thereon so as to extend'over-thesaid dispenser.

9 Y The invention 'may also include' an, appliance having the napkindispenser 11, tray12, and any support or pedestal: 13 so associated thatthe tray 12 may be'interchangeably mounted on the dis+ penser andpedestal to: produce a 7 device 10a which illustrates a second phase ofthe appliance, of which thedevice 10 maybe considered the first-phase. I

i 14 denotes a conventional cafeteria tableupon which theapplia'ncell)or 10a maybe mounted or attached in central relation, so that there is amaximum substantially uniform space between theperiphery 15 of the saicltable and the dis penser '11 or pedestal 13 as the case maybe.

For the purpose-of illustrating one form of the invention, it will besufiicient to, indicate that the napkin-dispenserll includes a'casingldhaving side walls 17, a front wall 18, a rear wall 19, and a top wall20. Said casing may be weighted at its base by a plate 21.- Within thecasing, a feeder such as a plate 22 may be provided, actuated toward thefront wall by an actuator such as an expansion coil spring 23. The frontwall 18 may have an opening-24 smaller in size than the plate 22 so asto assureretention of the latter. Formed in the sides 1'7 of the casingare openings 25' located near the front wallfl Secured substantiallycentrally on the top of #the Leasing is a holding means of any wellknown type, such as a pin or stud 26 which may be suitably covered, whennot in use, as by a cap 27 t reald edly,con.-.v ,7

nected thereto. Y

It will sufiice briefly to point outthatnapkins such as paper napkinsare thru'stinto the casing through opening 24 so that the edge portionsof the napkins are engaged behind the frontwall 18,!

is of a conventional type J except for the holding means 26 and openings25,and any other kind of napkin dispenser, of diifere'nticonstructionand mode of operation maybe substitutedtherefor';

The tray 12 may beflof any well known shape and construction, andincludes, generally, a bOt-r' tom'plate 29 and a marginal flange 30..Substan tially centrally connected to ilthe bottom plate 29 in downwardacting relatiom-and in station-.v ary or rotary association with saidbottom plate, is a holding means of a conventional type adaptedforengagementwith thei upper partlof the dispenser l1. Said holdingmeansimay include a socket element 31 that..may have a pin 32 on whichthe tray is journaled'i"I'he-2socketi:element is adapted for threadedengagement with the stud26sothatthe traywill be mounted on the napkindispenser in central relation thereto' as shown. I :1 .2,

The pedestal l3maybejof any. well known type, and may include a'weightedbase 333orj other holding means. At its'upper end, the pedestalmay have a holding meansof any suitable type, as, for illustration, athreaded projectionor stud 26a similarto. 26so as to: be 'engageable inthe socket element. 31, Wherebylthetray ,can' bei carried by thepedestal";

It willlthusbe seen that theinvention p ro-1 vides an applianceincludingta napkin dispenser, a trayand a pedestal, which areinterchangeably associated ina reliable manner toprovide practicaldevices 10 and 10a. Hence the manufacturer and cafeteria need carryfeweraparts, and may provide either device 10. orf 100. as may benecessary; 1p q In the devicei10, the napkindispenser as a whole may actas a weighting means forholding the tray inastable manner, andneed'notoccupy any more table space than that required by the base of the;pedestal; The tray may be used in the usual convenient manner. .Thesup:ply of napkins can be observed through opening 25, so that the dispenser:need not be rem'oved from the table orotherwise manipulated for fill ithe Same- .nl,

.If the napkin dispenser is to be separatelyjused,

the tray is detached, and the cap 27 secured to aiford a uniform neatappearance for the device,

whereby a still different form of the invention is obtained.

I claim: v

1. A device including a vertically elongated portable casing having atopwall and a side wall, the latter having an opening for removablyreceiving napkins, said top wall having an upwardly projecting element,and a horizontal tray having a central downwardly extending element,said elements constituting removably interengagjingmale and femalemembers.

[2. Acafeteria appliance including a napkin dispenser-"casing having topand bottom walls and aside wall provided with an opening of substantialsize for, removably receiving napkins,

and'a horizontal tray, said casing having an upwardly extending screwelement at said top wall, and said tray having a downwardly extendingfemaleportion internallythreaded for, removable connection withthe'screw element.

--13;. A device including a vertically elongated portable napkindispenser :casing having.,a:top, andbottom wall and a side wall providedwith a gaged with said top wall, and said tray having-z a downwardlyextending ,element secured there:-

to, said, elements constituting removably inter:

I ,4. A cafeteria table a pliance aausmgiami-,

kin d p r sin t ame., h vi s. e topv walland a side wall, thelatterhaving an opening i rremov rece v n p ihs a idea em nt of maleandfemale releasably interengaging ele-, ments for mounting'a horizontaltray over said c in a le e s, iil l l d 1 .fi 6345-. ingin enga ementwith said topwall.

5 A device including a ,veracai1y,eijtngatg i P rta le ca i 'hev ne a1i??? Wall n a s d wall, the-,latter having v an opening for" receiving1 1 3 5 1. salmon W vi 4 w r o-1 jecting screw element, and a horizontaltray having aeentraldownwardly extending sleeve in} te nal thre daiorremovab connection h the screw element. H I e v caf e atabl a pliancincluding n bkin dispenser casing havingtop and bottom walls andasidewall provided'withan opening for removably receiving napkins ,in thecasing, and a horizontal tray, said casing and tray having male andfemale releasably interengaging elements disposed so as to mount thetrayover the cas n -1 1 I l 7. A, cafeteria table appliance including anapkin ,dispensercasing having -top, bottom walls and side wallsinterconnected to brace each other,

one ofthe side walls'having an opening for removably receiving napkinsin the casing, a horizontal tray overlying thecasing, and releasably;interengaging male andfemale elements,

one of said'elementsbeing connected to the tray, and the otherelementbeingconnected to the casing so as to be laterally reenforcinglyheld by thelatter, i 8. A cafeteria table applianceincluding a-nap: kin;dispenser casing of boxgconstruction of the type that is light in-Weight,;said casing having thin, walls interconnected formutuallybracing each other,rone ofthe. Walls having a side opening. 'for,removal of ,napkinsin the casing, and a horizontal tray having aradiallycontinuous bottom wall overlying the casing and the casing andtray having interengaging connecting means so that the tray is reliablysupported by the box construction of the casing.

9. A portable cafeteria table appliance including a napkin dispensercasing of box construction of the type that is'held in position by abase weight, said casing having thin walls interconnected with eachother, one of the walls having a side opening for removably receivingnapkins in the casing, and a horizontal tray having a disc shaped bottomwall overlying the casing and the latter and the tray havinginterengaging connecting means positioned remotely from the edges of thetray so that the tray is maintained as a movable unit with the casing.

10. A portable cafeteria table appliance includweight at the basethereof, said casing having thin walls interconnected with each other,one

of the walls having a side opening for removably receiving napkins inthe casing and a horizontal tray having a disc shaped bottom walloverlying the casing and the latter and the tray having detachablyengaged connecting means located remotely from the edge of the tray sothat the same is normally maintained as a movable unit with the casing,and the latter being complete and adapted to function as a napkindispenser in the detached condition thereof with respect to the tray.

HARRY C. GESSLER.

